Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Any ideas?

...young Plainbelly Watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster). There are several subspecies which can look quite different as adults so knowing the snake's place of origin would help pinpoint its exact identity.

I'm going to humor myself and guess Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster, the Redbelly Watersnake.

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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

Gotta wonder about 'em....posing for a picture with snake in hand & didn't know what kind of snake it was.

Pierson's right about the identity, & the need for locality to firm up the subspecies.

~~Greg~~

It was found in middle Georgia. Thanks.

Redbelly Watersnake it is (Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster).
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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

I would have to say it is a midland, and a belly shot would prove either way. But this snake is a juvenile and the markings/colorings are all wrong for a red bellied.
If you can post a belly shot, I could be wrong, but the ground coloration and banding say it is a midland.

The venter doesnt look red or tinted red at all, looks pale yellow. And if it has crescent shaped markings on its belly, then it is a midland.
Brian
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RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath" (KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Yellow rat snake "Wolverine" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

MILKS
0.0.1 Eastern Milk snake "Cable" (KY locale)
0.0.1 Eastern/Red milk intergrade "Omega Red" (KY locale)
Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

Dark markings smaller than spaces between them. That does not seem to be the case on the pictured animal.

~~Greg~~

Some Redbelly babies from last year. They are born with cream colored venters that turn orange with age.

Change your mind?

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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

neonate nerodia are about like the obsoleta complex. Look pretty close to each other when newborn!! Learn something new everyday!! Thanks for the pics, those were awesome. Did you collect those or did you have a mated pair?
Pretty cool.
Brian
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RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath" (KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Yellow rat snake "Wolverine" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

MILKS
0.0.1 Eastern Milk snake "Cable" (KY locale)
0.0.1 Eastern/Red milk intergrade "Omega Red" (KY locale)
Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

it is identical to a few we caught recently in broward county.....one of which wanted to eat my thumb!

keith
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I'm not sure I want popular opinion on my side -- I've noticed those with the most opinions often have the fewest facts.

maybe the redbellied are native to south florida also?

anyone know where its borders are?

some of the ones we catch are way redder also.....almost fire engine red....awesome lil snakes tho....

keith
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I'm not sure I want popular opinion on my side -- I've noticed those with the most opinions often have the fewest facts.

According to the range map in Florida's Snakes by Bartlett, red bellys are Panhandle only.
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Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

lloyd you were there am i that far off?

keith

ps turtle has it maybe i will get a pic
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I'm not sure I want popular opinion on my side -- I've noticed those with the most opinions often have the fewest facts.

It looked a lot like the photo,but the book I mentioned above also indicates the true Banded Waters do not come this far south.The photos in the book of Florida Waters do have bands.
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Lloyd Heilbrunn

Palm Beach Gardens, Fl.

What you are finding in south Florida are Florida Watersnakes (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris) and they have a banded pattern. The snake in the picture is clearly patterned with alternating blotches. Furthermore, Redbelly Watersnakes aren't found south of Levy County in FL.

The snake in the picture is a juvenile Redbelly Watersnake. Trust me.
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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture

florida water snake!! ive seen a lot of those.... if you dont live in FL i have no clue what it is!

You may all be right, but I firmly believe that it is a Southern Water Snake. Look at the color, its more of a reddish brown and most Florida Water snakes are much darker. I can't really tell how old it is, but I have seen Southern Water snakes and that closely resembles one if it isn't.

You're overlooking a key characteristic. Southern Watersnakes (Nerodia fasciata) are banded for their ENTIRE length. If you look at the snake in the photo, the posterior half is destinctly patterned with alternating dorsal and lateral blotches.

I wish the person who found this snake would post a belly shot. It would become immediately clear that the snake is a juvenile erythrogaster.
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Pierson Hill

Herpetology and Herpetoculture